The Resurrection Is For Skeptics

I became a Christian in fifth grade. It happened at church while I was singing in the choir at a Christmas Eve service.

However, in my social context, a number of people who loved me and wanted the best for me thought that following Jesus was a big mistake. Both family and friends discouraged me from being a Christian. They claimed it made more sense to be agnostic, atheistic, or simply dismissive of religion. And they provided arguments that I felt I had to consider.

While I got answers from apologetics resources, I had a nagging suspicion that they were too one-sided. So in college, I majored in philosophy. I even did a study abroad program at St. Catherine's College, Oxford. During my two terms at Oxford, I took three tutorials that specifically focused on the arguments for and against Christianity.

But I had pressing questions - and doubts - about what I believed. I felt compelled to examine them as carefully as I could. Even to this day, I continue to examine and re-examine what I believe, and why I believe it. As best I can, I want to know what is true. I'm incurably curious, and temperamentally, a little bit skeptical!

If Christianity could only be known by direct revelation from God, I hope that would be sufficient for me. After all, it is my experience that God knows me and loves me!

Yet when I realized that God loves skeptical people like me, I felt relief. When someone has doubts, we don't have to respond, "Just have faith." We can give evidence and reasons.

Let's look at John 20:19-29 together. The text doesn't tell us, but I like to think that Thomas was out getting groceries the first time Jesus showed up. In any case, let's imaginatively enter into this scene.

Imagine a week in a locked room with ten of your closest friends insisting that they've seen the risen Jesus. I wonder if they raised their voices in anger with each other? It had to be immensely frustrating for all of them.

Still, isn't this an embarrassing story? Despite the testimony of Peter, James, and John, even after Jesus had given them the Holy Spirit, one of the apostles refused to believe!

Thomas insists on evidence. So how does Jesus respond to doubting Thomas? Does he zap him with a lightning bolt?

No. Jesus says, "Peace be with you." And he turns the exact words of Thomas' doubts into a specific invitation. Look at the careful parallels between verse 25 and 27. Jesus doesn't go off on a tangent. He gives a precise response to the particular need that Thomas has expressed.

Jesus loved doubting Thomas. If you have doubts, God cares about you. And if your friends have doubts, God invites us to directly engage those questions.